Location of new horse park arena still unsettled

In this May 19, 201e file photo, Tammy Bichel and her horse Chunk gallop through a wide open field at the Florida Horse Park off County Road 475.

Lisa Crigar/Star-Banner

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 10:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 10:24 p.m.

The easy part was accepting the money.

While the Florida Horse Park board of directors officially accepted the $2 million offered by Gov. Rick Scott in May, agreed to use the money to build a covered arena and even narrowed the field of contractors to build it, they ended Thursday's meeting without a place to build.

If the arena is built in its intended place — per the park's master plan — it would set up a situation in which, once other planned facilities — including an indoor arena and a show jumping stadium — are built, they would encroach on the current eventing and driving courses.

The park survived in recent years due to eventing and driving shows, Shawn Doherty, the park's executive director, told the board.

While two other locations for the arena were discussed, the board agreed to reconvene on June 27 for a final vote on the location.

"I've talked to a lot of people in the horse industry and they always complain because we don't have a covered arena. It gives us the ability to add other disciplines to the park. The challenge becomes where we locate that," said Nan Bonfield, chairwoman of the park's board.

Initial estimates for the arena approach $1.8 million. Edwards Construction and J. McLauchlin and Company are the finalists for the job, with one to be chosen before the end of the month.

The decision to accept the $2 million was unanimous, despite a condition that the money must be repaid unless it generates $5.5 million in new sales tax revenue by 2018.

"This is not something we should take lightly," Bonfield said.

However, she noted that she was not able to get a clear picture of how the sale tax revenue would be measured. It was also noted that the award letter did not state the economic impact had to be limited to Marion County.

"To me, in terms of the future of the park, the highest risk is declining this $2 million," said Lonny Powell, a board member.

The horse park was created in 1996 by an act of the Florida Legislature and covers 500 acres in Southeast Marion County off County Road 475. It has an estimated total cost of between $60 to $70 million. Building the arena is the first significant step toward the proposed facilities.

<p>The easy part was accepting the money.</p><p>While the Florida Horse Park board of directors officially accepted the $2 million offered by Gov. Rick Scott in May, agreed to use the money to build a covered arena and even narrowed the field of contractors to build it, they ended Thursday's meeting without a place to build.</p><p>If the arena is built in its intended place — per the park's master plan — it would set up a situation in which, once other planned facilities — including an indoor arena and a show jumping stadium — are built, they would encroach on the current eventing and driving courses.</p><p>The park survived in recent years due to eventing and driving shows, Shawn Doherty, the park's executive director, told the board.</p><p>While two other locations for the arena were discussed, the board agreed to reconvene on June 27 for a final vote on the location.</p><p>"I've talked to a lot of people in the horse industry and they always complain because we don't have a covered arena. It gives us the ability to add other disciplines to the park. The challenge becomes where we locate that," said Nan Bonfield, chairwoman of the park's board.</p><p>Initial estimates for the arena approach $1.8 million. Edwards Construction and J. McLauchlin and Company are the finalists for the job, with one to be chosen before the end of the month.</p><p>The decision to accept the $2 million was unanimous, despite a condition that the money must be repaid unless it generates $5.5 million in new sales tax revenue by 2018.</p><p>"This is not something we should take lightly," Bonfield said.</p><p>However, she noted that she was not able to get a clear picture of how the sale tax revenue would be measured. It was also noted that the award letter did not state the economic impact had to be limited to Marion County.</p><p>"To me, in terms of the future of the park, the highest risk is declining this $2 million," said Lonny Powell, a board member.</p><p>The horse park was created in 1996 by an act of the Florida Legislature and covers 500 acres in Southeast Marion County off County Road 475. It has an estimated total cost of between $60 to $70 million. Building the arena is the first significant step toward the proposed facilities.</p>